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Adoration is communicating (prayer, thoughts, and silent conversations) with the Lord, when his body is in full view of you.

The parish office door to get in the chapel is unlocked Monday thru Friday at 8:00 am and locked at 4:00 pm. Adoration is on Thursday from 12 noon to 7:00 pm. The Lord continues to invite each one of us into a greater union with Him, especially in the Holy Eucharist. What a great way to grow in holiness by spending time with Jesus in prayer in our Adoration Chapel. Please help us to fill all the empty spots where there is no one to “wait” with the Lord.

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist The Holy Eucharist, or the Blessed Sacrament, is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ; His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. The Mass is the Eucharistic Celebration when the Christian faithful gather to remember and be thankful for the Paschal Mystery; the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. It is during the Eucharistic Celebration that Jesus becomes truly present on the Altar to unite us to God and one another in love, community, and prayer. The Mass, then, is where we personally interact with Jesus as gathered community. The Catholic Church identifies the Eucharist as the "source and summit of our faith" because everything we do as Christians leads to or from the Eucharistic Celebration.

What is Eucharistic Adoration? The Eucharist is the actual body of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The fact that we can commune (interact) with Jesus in the flesh was the greatest gift that our Lord gave to us while he was on earth. When we commune with the body (and blood) of our Lord, we are uniting our body and spirit with his. Simply put, when we take the time to interact with the actual body of Christ: His presence in our body, mind and spirit are increased. The more often this happens, the more we will think about and follow his teachings and his Church. There are two ways to commune with the body of Christ: by receiving the body of Christ at Mass; and by adoring the body of Christ. All Catholics are expected to attend Mass every Sunday. The Church does not obligate Catholics to adore the Lord, but it is just as powerful and meaningful for both you and the Lord as the Mass! Don't be foolish in thinking that just because the Vatican does not require you to adore the Lord, it is not good for you.

Common Misconceptions About Praying and Adoring We are taught as Catholics to pray, and pray a lot, not just at Mass. However, praying to the Lord through thought, word, and action are not the same a adoring the actual body of Christ. One is not a substitute for the other. Think of it in this human sense. Thinking about your kids is pleasant and you do it a lot, but you would never consider it a substitute for actually being with your kids. No, you want to do both. Some point to reflect on:

Adoration of the Lord is a fantastic privilege for Catholics; don't punish yourself by not going.

For 2,000 years, humans have tried and failed to find an acceptable excuse for not adoring the Lord.

At adoration, the Lord is not going to judge or punish you, and he will welcome all your personal problems and anxieties you unload on him!

You are never too young or too old to adore the Lord, so take your parents, spouse, kids or a friend.

Give adoration a try: you will be amazed!

How to Adore the Lord There are no hard and fast rules to follow, and Jesus will be there to help. However, here are some tips to ease your anxiety about your initial trip to visit with the Lord.

Reverence is the rule! Just ask yourself: how would I behave, dress... if I were going to be with the Lord, because YOU ARE!

When you enter the Chapel, be quiet and make as little noise as possible.

As soon as you can, drop to both knees and simply let the Lord know you are there to visit with him. Remember: He is really there, so it is quite proper and enthralling to talk directly to him.

Then, you can kneel, sit or stand.

What should you think or do while you are in the adoration chapel? Silently discuss your problems, questions and ideas with the Lord. Pray for vocations or other intentions. THANK THE LORD! Read the Bible or other religious works. Use the books on the bookshelf.

When you need to leave, drop to both knees and give thanks to the Lord, and tell him you are leaving - but you will be back!

SUGGESTIONS FOR AN HOUR WITH GOD These prayer suggestions are provided as ideas for you to use or draw on if you are occasionally at a loss as to what to discuss with God.

1. Slowly read scripture until something hits you. Then listen. 2. Pray a rosary. 3. Let God look at you. 4. Tell Him something that made you happy. Then listen. 5. Tell Him what you are afraid of. Then listen. 6. Tell Him what angers you. Then listen. 7. Speak about your loved ones. 8. Pray for an enemy. 9. Talk with Him about work. 10. Sing a song for Him in your heart. 11. Promise to trust Him. 12. Imagine Mary sitting next to you and praying with you. 13. Renew your loyalty to His Church. 14. Lean on Him. Tell Him you love Him. 15. Thank Him for the Sacraments. 16. Tell Him your failures. Ask for help. Then listen. 17. Slowly recite the Beatitudes. 18. Say one Our Father slowly. 19. Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father for that month. 20. Say one Hail Mary slowly. 21. Pray for the world. 22. Say the Creed slowly. 23. Pray for vocations. 24. Ask Him to show you the next step. 25. Look at yourself. Count your gifts. Then thank Him. 26. Enjoy just being in His presence.